Astros report: McHugh battling blister

The Astros' Jose Altuve easily beats the throw to Twins shortstop Eduardo Escobar for his AL-leading 23th stolen base in the third inning Sunday.

The Astros' Jose Altuve easily beats the throw to Twins shortstop...

MINNEAPOLIS - Astros righthander Collin McHugh thinks the blister on the middle finger of his throwing hand won't be a problem going forward.

McHugh had some control problems Sunday in the Astros' 14-5 win over the Twins. His 41⁄3 innings didn't fully spell the Astros' bullpen after a long day of work on Saturday, but they can be better appreciated knowing he was toughing out the blister.

"You kind of knew early on it was going to be an issue," McHugh said of the blister. "We've had a couple days where the bullpen's been kind of taxed. You just go out there and say, 'Hey, I'm going to give everything I have for as many innings as I have.' I know Bo (Porter) and Corpy (catcher Carlos Corporan) were both trying to get me through the fifth there."

McHugh said he noticed the blister in his bullpen before the game, and it started to become an issue from the third inning on. He said he didn't have the blister prior to Sunday.

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On deck: At Diamondbacks

1 Dropping the DH: For the first time this season, Astros pitchers are going to have to take turns at the plate in a National League park. The Astros' two scheduled starting pitchers in Arizona, Jarred Cosart and Brad Peacock, have a strong belief in their swings. "It just so happens that the two guys that really believe they can hit happen to be the two guys that are pitching in the two National League games," manager Bo Porter said. Cosart has never had a plate appearance.

2 Trying to end a trend: The Diamondbacks have won nine straight games against the Astros and 12 of their last 13 meetings. The D-Backs swept the last series these teams played Aug. 17-19, 2012, at Minute Maid Park.

3 Solid Goldy: Diamondbacks first baseman Paul Goldschmidt is a 2006 graduate of The Woodlands High School. An All-Star last year, Goldschmidt is hitting .303 with 12 home runs. D-Backs second baseman Aaron Hill is 18-for-41 (.439) lifetime against the Astros.

Evan Drellich

Pitching matchups

Astros Diamondbacks

Today Jarred Cosart (4-5) Josh Collmenter (4-2)

Tuesday Brad Peacock (2-4) Bronson Arroyo (5-4)

Astros update

Sunday: Astros 14, Twins 5.

Record: 28-36.

Today: At Arizona, 8:40 p.m.

Pitchers: Jarred Cosart (4-5) vs. Josh Collmenter (4-2).

TV/radio: CSNH; 790 AM and 1010 AM (Spanish).

"I've had some issues with it since college, but it's always been manageable, so I don't expect this to be any different," McHugh said.

McHugh struck out six, walked five and allowed three runs on as many hits. He entered the day with a streak of 13 innings without allowing an earned run.

Trip pleasing for Crain

This is Jesse Crain's first road trip of the year, and it's been a positive in two ways. For one, he appreciates being around his teammates as opposed to being stationed at the team's Florida complex.

"It's nice to be a part of the team, be able to travel and work with the coaching staff and the trainers up here," Crain said. "It creates more of a team atmosphere and makes me feel closer to being back."

And two, Crain pitched 376 games for the Twins from 2004-10. They drafted him in the second round in 2002.

"I have really good memories here and good friends still across the way, and I always had a lot of respect for the organization," Crain said.

Crain threw a bullpen Saturday as he works his way back from offseason shoulder surgery. Everything remains "in pencil," as Crain said.

Owens adjusting to bullpen life

With the bullpen burnt out after starting pitcher Scott Feldman recorded just five outs Saturday, the Astros on Sunday called up lefthander Rudy Owens for his second stint in the big leagues.

Righthander Paul Clemens, one of two long relievers the Astros relied on Saturday, was optioned to Class AAA Oklahoma City.

"You have to make sure that you have coverage coming into today's game so that you don't put yourself in an even worse position for today or moving forward," manager Bo Porter said.

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Owens has always been a starting pitcher, so it stands to reason the Astros wouldn't want to keep him out of a rotation setting for long.

"I think we just play it day to day," Porter said.

The timing of the promotion is particularly good for Owens, whose family drove a van from Phoenix to Seattle when he made his major league debut against the Mariners last month. The Astros on Monday open a two-game series with the Diamondbacks in Phoenix.

"I guess we'll find out," Owens said with a laugh when asked how he'd adjust to relieving. "I've thrown out of the bullpen a couple times this year in the piggyback system. … Whenever they call my name, just try to treat it as a piggyback and go in like I would normally do. Just try not to put too much pressure on myself and try to calm my nerves down a little bit. Go out and cheese at the knees."

Odds and ends

Shortstop Jonathan Villar (right elbow) returned to the starting lineup for the first time since being hit by a pitch on Tuesday and went 3-for-5, raising his average to .205. … Of the 41 players the Astros selected in the MLB draft, a whopping 37 were from the collegiate ranks. They set a team record in drafting only four high school players this year.